TAMPA, Fla. — Freddy Garcia looped his pitches at minor-leaguers this afternoon and let their eagerness do all the hard work.

Predictably, they swung so early and so often. Shortly after he walked off the mound after six breezy innings — the last time he pitches before the Yankees decide if he is worthy enough for their rotation — he joked about not knowing what to make of the results.

“They don’t let you pitch,” Garcia said. “They swing at everything.”

Not that the results really mattered. With a decision looming, it seemed that all Garcia could do to impact his chances was to get hurt, a concern rendered moot when he emerged from his glorified batting practice session unscathed.

The Yankees have maintained that they know all they need about Garcia, who in the context of this competition, represents the safe choice. Manager Joe Girardi didn’t bother to attend. General manager Brian Cashman did, though he admitted that his attention was on others on the field.

“He did what Freddy does,” pitching coach Larry Rothschild said, after watching the right-hander get hitters out with pitches that rarely strayed out of the 87-mph range.

It’s no different from what the Yankees would likely receive from Garcia, should he make the rotation.

“I’m happy with the way I pitched,” said Garcia before reiterating that he’d be willing to pitch in long relief, if that’s what it takes to make the team.

Yet, with the competition winding down, the Yankees aren’t eager to share what they are thinking as decision day looms.

Just as Girardi had done a day before, Cashman took care with his comments about the competition, offering little in the way of insight.

Ivan Nova, who pitches today, appears to have a spot locked up. Sergio Mitre, who has been on the fringes of the competition, fits well as a long reliever. That leaves Garcia and Colon for one open spot.

And Colon, despite reporting to camp overweight, has outshined Garcia.

“Yeah, it’s been a surprise,” Rothschild said, “The stuff that he’s had, and really the mix of pitches, I didn’t expect it. The velocity is back to being where he can really compete well with it. If he can stay healthy and maintain his stamina, he’s going to help us. We just have to see where it all fits together.”

Still, Garcia proved with the White Sox last season that he will at least log innings, which Colon has not. Colon may have one more chance to pitch before the Yankees meet about their decision sometime this weekend, before opt-out clauses would spring Colon and Garcia from camp.

But Colon seems to have already made his impression.

“From what I’ve seen, he can help a major league team, without a doubt,” Rothschild said.

So, all Garcia can do now is sit tight, wondering if he will be rewarded for performing
exactly as expected. Garcia has little experience as a reliever but said he would be willing to work out of the bullpen if a rotation spot doesn’t work out.

But he has no regrets about his choice to sign a minor-league deal with the Yankees, even when he had opportunities to pitch elsewhere.